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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

spruiker en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • [ˈspɹʉːkə] (Australia)

Etymology

From spruik + -er (“suffix generating agent noun”).

Meanings

  1. (Australia) One who spruiks business, a tout.
    • At the convention of the Victorian Protestant Federation G. A. Judkins alleged that attractive young girls were used as spruikers, luring Melburnians to gamble.⁷¹ 2009, Kate Darian-Smith, On the Home Front: Melbourne in Wartime: 1939-1945, 2nd edition, page 170:
    • Our days were filled with new sensations – the bite of every dragon fruit, the smell of roasting meat emanating from the dog restaurants near the Red River, the endless chatter of spruikers and peddlers. 2008, Sim Shen, “Hanoi and Other Homes”, in Alice Pung, editor, Growing Up Asian in Australia, page 338:
    • 1993, Mark St Leon, The Wizard of the Wire: The Story of Con Colleano, Aboriginal Studies Press, Australia, page 9, The spruiker then asked, “Now we want to know, will anyone have a go at the heavyweight? If anyone can stand four rounds we will give them a five-pound note and the best bottle of wine in the town”.
  2. (Australia) One who toots their own horn.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
spruikers Number=Plur lexicographic

Relateds

pitchman · spruik · huckster

Synonyms

barker (one who spruiks) · tout (one who spruiks)